I have spent the best part of this year and especially this summer producing the Champaign Urbana Theater production of Les Miserable's. It's been a few weeks since we wrapped up the show and I thought I would take some time and share a few of my insights into this experience. First let me say the primary reason I volunteer for community theater is because of Les Miserables. About 8 years ago I was in Kathy Murphy's office in EMP insurance buying health insurance. I had known Kathy for years as her brother Tim is a fraternity brother and when I moved to town I purchased my home and auto insurance from his firm.
Kathy was one of the founders of the Champaign Urbana Theater Company (CUTC). I had heard her on a local radio show, "Penny for your Thoughts", where she and the host, Jim Turpin, were discussing the upcoming production of Les Mis. Jim by the way is one of our community's most vocal advocates of local theater and often features songs and interviews for upcoming productions on his show.
So back to her office, I mentioned to her I had heard her on Penny, and I was eager to see the show. One of my friends and mentors, Jill Acheson, had taken me to see Les Mis at the Assembly Hall over 15 years prior and we talked endlessly about this magical music and message. Kathy commented, "Todd, come help us with the show. We need people backstage, you can help us move sets." That set in motion a new volunteer career in theater for me as I have worked on more than 25 shows since then, producing 5 for CUTC and 4 more in the community.
Producing a show is a project. Every show starts with a vision. The director is hired, and then a staff is assembled around him or her. In community theater each staff is unique. People need to be recruitted to design and prepare costumes, make-up, props, sets, marketing, music, orchestras, and literally every element of the show itself. And this doesn't include the need to attract quality actors to perform the shows. The director casts his vision to the producer, and the producer's job to to make that vision come to life. Of course the money needed and the time to put things together are two huge obstacles you have to work around. Especially in this era when sponsorships have thinned out and volunteers are harder to attract. But you work with a deadline, "Opening night", and everything you do centers around that date. When it comes together, it's a beautiful piece of art, when it doesn't, well let me say you're just happy there is a "closing night."
This year I had the pleasure of working with director Stephen Fiol as Producer of CUTC's third production of Les Miserables. Normally when I finish a show I "never want to talk to the director again", however this time I found myself wanting to work on our "next project" right away. Steve defines brilliant. Personable is an understatement. A man with a vision is a good description, however the focus of his vision far exceeds most anyone I have ever worked with before. And it truly was proven in his adaptation of this show.
We sold out every show but one, the first night. And we oversold every night after the first. I suppose I could say that technically we sold out the run as the oversold seats when combined with the regular seats exceeded the capacity. That is a great problem to have.
Why was this show such a hit? A combination of many reasons, wonderful costumes, an incredible set, beautiful music in the form of a 21 piece orchestra led by Aaron Kaplan, well chosen props, but mostly, a talented cast more talented than any group of men or women I have ever had the pleasure to work with. We had 3 doctoral students in our lead roles. Kyle Pollio as Jean Valjean, Timothy Renner as Javert and Bethany Stiles as Fantine. Our other leads were marvelous as well, Caitlin Dobbs as Cossette, Corbin Knight Dixon as Marius, LaDonna Wilson and Jim Dobbs as the Thenardiers, Marah Solelo as Eponine, just a name a few. And truly I should name each of the 53 cast members and more than 100 volunteers as everyone did incredible work on this show.
So suffice it to say this was a fun summer. At the end of a run the cast often presents a gift to the staff in appreciation of their work. For this show, the cast gave each of the key staff a candlestick. These candlesticks were used as props during the show, and each bear a tag with the night the prop was used. For me, it was the first Saturday, which was the night Jill Acheson's family came. I had dedicated my work in this production to Jill, so it's very special to me I would have a gift from the show from that night.
And there couldn't have been a more special memento for me than the candlestick. For those that know the story, you'll remember early in the show Valjean steals silver from the Bishop he is staying with. When the police capture Valjean and bring him back to the Bishop, this man of God not only "lies" to the police, telling them he gave Valjean the silver, but he says, "you forgot the best pieces, the candlesticks." This act of grace plants the seeds in Valjean of forgiveness and love and serve as the foundation from which the rest of the story is based. Everyone deserves a second chance. And in this second life, Valjean becomes a man filled with love and compassion for all he meets. Even Javert who's mission in life is to arrest Valjean, is forgiven.
So this chapter in my life is now closed. I have made many new friends and in the process helped some very talented people create beautiful art. Some local critics said this was the best community theater production in more than 30 years. Others said it was by far the best CUTC production. I can't speak to that, I can only speak my own conclusion, and that is this was a magical summer, one that I won't soon forget. And each time I see my candlestick I'll fondly remember the incredible talent I was inspired by every day.
This year I had the pleasure of working with director Stephen Fiol as Producer of CUTC's third production of Les Miserables. Normally when I finish a show I "never want to talk to the director again", however this time I found myself wanting to work on our "next project" right away. Steve defines brilliant. Personable is an understatement. A man with a vision is a good description, however the focus of his vision far exceeds most anyone I have ever worked with before. And it truly was proven in his adaptation of this show.
We sold out every show but one, the first night. And we oversold every night after the first. I suppose I could say that technically we sold out the run as the oversold seats when combined with the regular seats exceeded the capacity. That is a great problem to have.
Why was this show such a hit? A combination of many reasons, wonderful costumes, an incredible set, beautiful music in the form of a 21 piece orchestra led by Aaron Kaplan, well chosen props, but mostly, a talented cast more talented than any group of men or women I have ever had the pleasure to work with. We had 3 doctoral students in our lead roles. Kyle Pollio as Jean Valjean, Timothy Renner as Javert and Bethany Stiles as Fantine. Our other leads were marvelous as well, Caitlin Dobbs as Cossette, Corbin Knight Dixon as Marius, LaDonna Wilson and Jim Dobbs as the Thenardiers, Marah Solelo as Eponine, just a name a few. And truly I should name each of the 53 cast members and more than 100 volunteers as everyone did incredible work on this show.
So suffice it to say this was a fun summer. At the end of a run the cast often presents a gift to the staff in appreciation of their work. For this show, the cast gave each of the key staff a candlestick. These candlesticks were used as props during the show, and each bear a tag with the night the prop was used. For me, it was the first Saturday, which was the night Jill Acheson's family came. I had dedicated my work in this production to Jill, so it's very special to me I would have a gift from the show from that night.
And there couldn't have been a more special memento for me than the candlestick. For those that know the story, you'll remember early in the show Valjean steals silver from the Bishop he is staying with. When the police capture Valjean and bring him back to the Bishop, this man of God not only "lies" to the police, telling them he gave Valjean the silver, but he says, "you forgot the best pieces, the candlesticks." This act of grace plants the seeds in Valjean of forgiveness and love and serve as the foundation from which the rest of the story is based. Everyone deserves a second chance. And in this second life, Valjean becomes a man filled with love and compassion for all he meets. Even Javert who's mission in life is to arrest Valjean, is forgiven.
So this chapter in my life is now closed. I have made many new friends and in the process helped some very talented people create beautiful art. Some local critics said this was the best community theater production in more than 30 years. Others said it was by far the best CUTC production. I can't speak to that, I can only speak my own conclusion, and that is this was a magical summer, one that I won't soon forget. And each time I see my candlestick I'll fondly remember the incredible talent I was inspired by every day.
